Closure for containers



' June 14, 1938; 1 ,G.-A, MOORE l CLOSURE FOR' CNTAINERS Filed NO V. 6, 1935 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED ,Sfr

Pari-:Nr ourlet:A

,2,120,963 y -cnosmm Fon commas George Aungtn Moore, muisviue, Ky.. assigner to-Humoco Corporation, Louisville,

poration'f of Delaware.

Application'november s, 1935, serial 1m43.415s

is claimen (ci. sis-38.5)

'.10 and which forms a more effective seal than caps heretofore provided for such containers.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a novelcap vwhich may be readily removed and replaced by hand and yet one which will adhere to 15. the associated container in such aman'ner as to provide a substantially hermetic seal.`

Still another object is to provide a novel sealing cap which is so constructedthatfthe same may be readily and easily removed from a container, 2o irrespective of the temperature changes and the coeilicient of expansion of the material pf-which the container is constructed.

A further object is to lprovide novel sealing means for a container which may -be readily re-1 25 moved withoutthe use of instrumentalities and may be replaced for resealing as originally packed. A still further object is toprovide a closure for a container which embodies the characteristics and advantages of a rigid closure member but 30 which is sufficiently flexible and resilient to readily conform itself to irregular surfaces'and provide a hermetic seal withoutthe applicationv of additional sealing substances or parts. y Another Objectis to provide a closure for con- 35 tainers which is so constructed as to avoid any possible danger of chipping or breaking la glass container when said closure is applied to or re`- moved from the same. i f' A A further object is to provide a novel laminated 40 cap for a container such as a glass or'metallic container which is so constructed asv-'to obviate the necessity for gaskets to secure a tight seal, the cap being so formed as t'o maintain its original characteristics over a very substantial periodv 45 of time and during constant use.

The above and other objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the followingdetailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is 50 to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only and is notdesigned as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being primarily had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

55 In the drawing, wherein like reference charsealing position on a container.

acters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a half top plan view, with parts broken away, of oneform of laminated rblank which may be employed in forming the cap of the present in- 5 vention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the blank, taken on. line 2--2 of Fig. 1, the thickness of thelaminations being represented on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a half elevation view ln section illus-.1,10 trating the blank after the same has been subjected to the l'irst step in the formation o! the Cap;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the 4blank after the completion of the second step of 15 the forming operation; y

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the completed cap; and,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrating the cap in One embodiment of the novel closure member comprehended by this invention is illustrated,byway of example, in the form of a screw cap adapted to threadedly engage and seal a container having cooperating screw threads thereon. closure or cap may be formed from a single blank 4of paper or other brous material, but preferably the same isformed from a blank constituted by a plurality of ,paper and metal foil laminations, the foil'laminations constituting, in eiect, a core and 30 being employed for the Apurpose of giving body and metallic -characteristics', such as toughness, to the cap and' to insure, the impervlousness thereof to penetration by air and moisture. The metallic ,core also operates to anchor the Vfibrous materia-l -of the closure flange against .undue expansion after the same has been subjected to the drawing and ilowlng operations to be hereinafter described. As shown in Fig. 2, a blank 9 which maybe employed inl making the cap of the pres- 40 ent invention is circular and comprises a layer of i foil Ill which is sandwiched between and reinforced by layers II and I2 of paper or other fibrous material.' In order that the elasticity and resiliency of the completed blank shall be somewhat greater than that of foil layer I0 and for the purpose of increasing the tenacity of the bond between said foil and the paper layers, the former is preferably slightly corrugated or embossed or the surface thereof roughened, as illustrated in Said 25 blank 9 in the form of a thin dried film I3 adapted to be activated by a suitable solvent, heat,l or

ordinary atmospheric temperatures.

both. To avoid the presence of excessive moisture between the laminations and to avoid shrinkage and consequent wrinkling of the paper layers when the glue dries after activation by a Solvent, the adhesive |03 employed should carry only about 10% to 12% of moisture and should be rendered tacky whenever the moisture content is raised to from 22% to 27%. Animal or dextrine glues and some vegetable adhesives have been found suitable. Y

In addition to the above, superior results are obtained if an adhesive having a rubber or latex base is employed to therebyinsure against any cracking of the dried film thereof between the layers of material when the blank is being deformed in a manner to appear hereafter. The flexibility of the completed cap is also enhanced when such a glue is used. It will be noted that when the coatingsof glue I3 are activated by applying' a solvent thereto and the paper laminations II and I2 are pressed against the foil layer I the activated glue flows suillciently to fill the crevices in the embossed or roughened surface of said foil layer and the pores and crevices of the paper layers thusl interlocking the same and minimizing any relative slippage during the formation of the cap.

It may be desirable that the inner surface of the completed cap, i. e., the surface which comes in contact with the contents of the containers, be repellant to moisture. Accordingly, to render layer II moisture proof and also to increase the sealing qualities of the cap, the surface of the central portion of -said layer is, in the form shown, coated with a protective film Il of vhigh gloss lacquer which is not affected by moisture or heat at One suitable lacquer Which has beengfound to have such characteristics is constituted by about equ`al percentages of solvents and solids, the formercomprising ethyl acetate diluted with alcohol and toluol, while the solids are 'made up about 30% of low viscosity nitro-cellulosei of a plasticizer, such as a modified cocoanut oil, and 60% of synthetic resins whose chiefl characteristics are transparency and gloss. A similar coating may also be applied to the'outer surface of layer I2. which surface may be printed before the application of the lacquer to thus obviate the necessity of a label.

For a purpose to appear hereafter, the marginal portion I5 of the outer surface of layer Il, which isv the inner surface of blank 9, is precoated with a thin dried film I6 of lacquer which possesses adhesive qualities and is capable of activation\` either by a solvent, heat, or both, but by heat only at temperatures considerably in excess of probable room temperatures, for example,'150 to 160 F. One suitable lacquer which has been found to fulfill the above requirements and accomplish the desired 'results is composed about 65% of such ester solvents as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, or the like, and such hydrocarbons las toluol, and 35% of solvents which can be readily .activated by solvents as well as heat. 'I'he solids contentis composed of about\25% of low viscosity nitro-cotton, about of a plasticizer, such as dibutyl phthalate which may -have a small amount of vegetable oils added thereto, and 60% which is illustrated in Fig. 5. The. first step of v the forming process consists in a drawing and forming operation whereby an annular inwardly projecting rib or ridge I'I is formed about the 4central portion of the blank and the marginal portion I5 thereof is drawn into flanged relation with said central portion in accordance with the process described in my Reissue APatent No. 19,504, for Flanged reinforced paper article and process of making same. Rib I'I may be formed .by a pair of cooperating male die members acting against the upper and lower surfaces of the blank, one of said dies having an annular raised portion or bead thereon complementary to a groove in the face of the other of said dies.' Said bead and groove may be shaped to form a rib of any def sired-contour, but the same is preferably formed with a planeinner surface I8 of considerable width measured along the radii of the blank. Rib I'l gives strength and radial rigidity to the cap or closure member and also adds to the longitudinal resiliency and flexibility thereof.' Surface 'I8 of the rib is accordingly efl'ective to yieldingly engage and conform itself to the upper edge of a container I9.with which it is adapted for use to thereby form a tight seal.

During the formation of rib I'I, the marginal portion' I5 'of blank 9 is yieldingly held against* wrinkling or bending alongradial lines and vat the same time said blank is drawn into a female die member by the movement of the above mentionedl male die members. l Margin I 5 is thus drawn yupwardly to form a smooth annular flange lia. Preferably a groove having a width comparable lto the thickness of blank 9 is provided between rib I'Ifand flange lia.

The second step of the forming operation conssts in flowing the-upper portion of flange I5a, as seen in Fig. 3, inwardly and downwardly until the raw edge `of said flange projects into groove 20, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The inilowing or foldout by a reciprocating male die member having a curved'annular groove in the lower edge thereof adapted to engagethe upper edgel of said flange while the blank is held by a suitable female die member, substantially as' disclosed in my above mentioned reissue patent. It will be noted that the ange thus formed is substantially homogeneouslthroughout.

In carrying out the third and last forming step. blank 9 in the form shown in Fig. 4 may be supported in a female die and subjected internally to radial pressure by suitable segmental dies having beads thereonadapted to form contours such as helical groove 2| in the inner wall of the flange o`f the cap, said groove being adapted to cooperate with threads on container I9. Preferably the female die is also provided with a thread-like .groove lcomplementary with helical bead on the segmental dies so that when pressure is applied lby the latter, groove 2l is formed in the inner diate rim I4V and the adjacent side Wall of the flange.

The pressure exerted outwardly against flange I5a by the segmental dies is resisted by the female die supporting the blank and said latter diemay be provided with suitable heating means such as a steamlconduit or electric heating coils. Heat from the die is conducted by thematerial of flange I5a to the thermoplastic adhesive I6 with which the margin I5 of blank 9 is precoated, as pointed out above. The adhesive being thus activated is caused by the exerted pressure. to flow into the interstices of theI paper layer IIv and substantially weld the folded portions of flange I5a. together, as illustrated at 24. At the same time, the adhesive between layers II and I2 and foil layer I0 is activated, thus setting said foil layer so that the same will resist any expanding tendencies of the fibrous materials which were` compressed during the drawing of -tlie flange.

This, aided by the fact' that there are two metallic layers in the flange., also gives rigidity to said lflange without disturbing the flexibility of the head or centralportion of the closure.

When the cap formed in the manner set forth above isv applied to containers such, for example, as glass container I9,.grooves-2I cooperate with threads on the neck of said container to move rim I1 into sealing engagement with the upper edge of said container. The flexibility of the top of the cap permits rim I'I to conform itself to the entire surface of the edge of the container, and this rm and complete engagement, assisted by the non-thermoplastic fllm of lacquer I4, constitutes a substantially impervious seal, it being-.unnecessary to employ aj gasket such as is required to be used with a rigid or metallic cap tosecure a good seal. In addition, the inner diameter of flange I5a of the completed cap (Fig. 5) is substantially the same as or slightly less than the outer diameter of the neck of container I9, and the natural resiliency and flexibility of said flange cause the same to snugly engage and conform itself to said neck, thereby giving material assistance to rib I1 in forming an impervious seal. The elasticity of the cap also gives assurance that the same may be easily rer'nved` at all times irrespective of temperature changes and the coefflcient of expansion'of the material of the container. Also, the coefficient of lfriction between paper and glass is considerably conta ner which may be inexpensively and readily tion. For example, other well-known securing means may be impressed in the flange of the cap in lieu of the helical thread 2| and blank' 9 may be composed of other arrangements of paper and foil laminations or wholly of paper laminations,.if desired. Also, thread 2|, 22 may -be reversed. i. e. with bead 22 projecting inwardly. Various other changes may also be made in the design illustrated, as will now be apparentv to those skilled in the art. Forja definition of the limits of the invention, reference will be had to the appended claims.

What -is claimed is:

1. A`n article of the class described compris'- ing a laminated circular blank with an annular rib formed centrally thereof and having anannular marginal portion of the blank drawn into flanged relation with the central portion thereof, a part of the flange being folded inwardly, and secured to the remainder thereof by an adhesive, and a groove and complementary bead in said flange adapted to cooperate with means on the container.

2. A closure for containers comprising a circular bla-nk, the marginal portion of which is folded into a multi-ply flange, the folds of which are consolidatembyf-e thermoplastic adhesive,` and the central portion of said blank having an inwardly extending rib'thereon adapted to engage the edge ofthe container surrounding an opening therein.

3. The process of making a container closure comprising a fibrous material which consists in drawing the marginal portion of a blank into flanged relation with the center thereof and inf flowing said marginal portion to form a multiply flange, and simultaneously pressing and heating the plies of said flange to activate a thermoplastic adhesive thereon and consolidate said plies. l

4. The process of making a container closure comprising a fibrous material which consistsv in.v

drawing the marginal portion of la blank into flanged relation with the center thereof and inflowing said marginal portion to form a multiply flange, simultaneouslypressing and heating the plies of. said flange to activate a thermoplastic adhesive thereon and consolidate said plies, and

, deforming said flange by the application of presjoining said flange to said central portion, said flange being constituted by the folded marginal portion of said blank and the peripheral edge of said blank extending into said groove.

6. An article of the class described formed from a blank comprising fibrous materials, said article including a central portion, a multi-ply flange, a portion constituting a groove and joining said flange to said central portion, said flange being constituted by the folded marginal lportion of said blank and the peripheralgedge of said blank extending into said groove,-'and an adhesive interposed between and joining the plies of said flange.

7. A container closure formed from a, blank comprising fibrous materials, said lclosure including a central portion, a multi-ply flange, and a portion constituting'v a groove and joining said constituted by the folded marginal 'portion of .central portion and said ange, the latter being deformations therein adapted to coact with means on a container for securing said closure thereto.

8. A container closure formed from a blank.v comprising brous material, said closure including a central portion having an annular rib adapted to engage the edge of the container s'urrounding an opening in the latter, a multi-ply flange, and a portion constituting a groove joining said vflangeand said central portion, said multi-ply flange being constituted by the folded marginal portion of said blank and the peripheral edge of said blank extending into said groove.

9. A container closure formed from a blank comprising fibrous material, said closure including a central portion having an annular rib adapted to engage the edge of the container surrounding an opening in the latter, a multi-ply flange, a portion constituting a groove joining said flange and said central portion, said multiply flange being constituted by the folded marginal portion of said blank and thev peripheral edge of said blank`extending linto said groove, and a thermoplastic adhesive interposed between and joining the plies of said flange. y'

10. The process of making a container closure comprising a fibrous material which consists in folding the marginal portion of a blank into flanged relation with the central portion thereof, folding a part of said marginall portion over on the other part thereof to form a double-ply flange, and simultaneously pressing and heating the plies of said flange to activate a thermoplas-i.

tic adhesive thereon andthereby adhesively join said plies to each other.

11. The process of making a container closure or the like comprising a fibrous material which consists in simultaneously folding the marginal portion of alblank into anged relation with thel central portion thereof and forming a groove between said marginal and central portions, and folding-said marginal portion to form a multiply flange with the edge'of. said marginal portion extending into said groove.

12. The process of making a container closure or the like comprising a fibrous material which consists in simultaneously folding the marginal portion of a blank into flanged relation with the central portion thereof and forming a groove between said marginal andcentral portions, folding said marginal portion to form a multi-ply flange with the edge of said marginal portion extending into said groove, and-deforming said which consists in simultaneously bending the4 marginal portion of a blank into anged'relation with the central portion thereof and form- .s/ing a groove between said marginal and central portions, foldingl saidmarginal portion -to vform comprising a fibrous material which consists in forming an annular rib in the central portion of a blank, drawing the marginal portion of said; l

blank into flanged relation with said central portion and simultaneously forming a groove between said marginalportion and said rib, and folding said marginal portion to form a multi-ply flange with the-edge of said marginal portion extending into said groove.v l

15. The process of making a container closure comprising a fibrous materialwhich consists in forming a flat, annularrib having a substantial radialwidth'in the central portion of a blank, drawing the marginalnportion of said blank into flanged relation with said central portion and simultaneously forming a groovebetween said marginal portion and said rib, folding said marginal portion to form a multieply flange with the l edge of said marginal portion extending into said groove, and deforming said flange by the application of pressure to render the same cooperable with means 4on the container for securing said closure thereto.

I ing said marginal portion to form a multi-plyI flange with the edge of said marginal portion l extending into said groove, and, simultaneously pressing and heating the plies of said flange to activate a thermoplastic adhesive thereon thereby adhesively join said plies.

GEO. ARLINGTON ivrooRr-z;V

and 

